Handri-Neeva Sujala Sravanthi project is the longest water canal project in Rayalaseema, India. The project is conceived to provide irrigation facilities and reliable drinking water supply, by drawing flood waters from the Srisailam reservoir. The first phase commences at Malyala, and irrigates six lakh acres in four districts of Rayalaseema, while the second phase is set to provide irrigation facilities for and drinking water to Chittoor district. This canal links the Handri River, Penna River, Chitravathi River, Papagni River, Mandavya River, Bahuda River, Cheyyeru River, Gargeya River, Vedavati River, Palar River and many other rivers in the Rayalaseema region. The canal is spread across Kurnool, Ananthapur, Kadapa and Chittoor districts. The canal feeds several reservoirs and water tanks in the region. In order to achieve full requirements of drinking and irrigation water of the region, more than 50 Tmcft water is required.
History
The project was conceived by Sir Arthur Cotton, however designs were finalised during the N. T. Rama Rao government. The budget allocations started during the tenure of Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy in 2004. The first phase of construction of the project was underway as of 2016. The project is constructed to utilise surplus water from the Krishna river; which is however unreliable and thus does not assure allocation of water to the drought-prone Rayalaseema and Nellore districts. Several political members had demanded speedy completion of irrigation projects in Rayalaseema. The two riparian states of the Krishna River, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are involved in a dispute over sharing water of the river.
The Project
The lift canal with a length of nearly 550 km, takes off from the back waters of Srisailam reservoir at Malyala and routed along the hill ridges up to high lands in Chittoor district via Kurnool, Ananthapur and Kadapa districts with many lifts / pumping stations. The canal feeds many existing tanks which are used for drinking water and irrigation needs. The main purpose of the canal is to ensure badly needed drinking and irrigation water in drought prone Rayalaseema region. It is planned to use nearly 40 Tmcft water from the Krishna River under this project. The minimum draw down level for Malyala pump house is at MSL. The project operational requirement is 653 MW power and 1.9 billion KWh of electrical energy annually for pumping 30 Tmcft water. The first phase of the canal up to Jeedipalli reservoir, is completed. This reservoir is located at Chinna Mushtur village in Ananthapur district and 3 Nos of balancing Reservoirs constructed in Phase-I i.e., 1. Krishnagiri, 2.Pathikonda Reservoir and 3. Jeedipalli Reservoir. The second phase of the main canal up to Adivipalli Reservoir Chittoor district. It is proposed to Create IP to an extent of 4,04,500 acres and drinking water facilities for 23 lakh Population in 293 Villages in the region en route the main canal and command area by utilizing 26 TMC of water through 3 Branch Canals Madakasira, Punganur and Niva, and 3 Distributories namely Atmakuru, Thamballapalli, Vayalpadu in the Drought prone upland Areas of Rayalaseema Districts i.e., Anantapur, Kadapa & Chittoor to fill water for six Reservoir including Veligallu Dam Reservoir and 5 Nos of balancing Reservoirs constructed in Phase-II i.e., 1. Gollapalli Reservoir, 2. Cherlopalli Reservoir, 3. Marala Reservoir, 4. Srinivasapuram Reservoir, 5. and Adivipalli Reservoir. The project canals can also feed by gravity the Tungabhdra high level canal and many other medium & minor tanks in Penna River basin to provide drinking water during severe droughts. This canal also feeds water to Bhairivani Tippa reservoir and other medium & minor irrigation tanks located in Krishna river basin of Ananthapur district to ensure the allocated Krishna water use under these projects even during the drought years. Thus the canal also serves as an alternate source to feed Krishna river water to major, medium & minor irrigation projects which have nearly 45 tmcft firm Krishna water allocations under Bachawat tribunal award. To make this lift canal operational for catering to drinking water needs even during a severe drought year, K. C. Canal water sourced from Sunkesula barrage can be fed to this pump house by gravity when water level in the Srisailam reservoir is below minimum draw down level required by the water pumps. A supplementary pump house at Mutchumarri to draw water from Srisailam reservoir at MSL is in advanced stage of construction. This pump house with its pipelines and canals can feed the nearby KC canal and the Malyala pump house of Handri Neeva lift canal, from the dead storage water even during the worst monsoon rains for the drinking water needs of Rayalaseema region.
